LOS ANGELES — And so they meet again.
UCLA’s 88-66 rout of Cal and USC’s hard-fought 59-55 win over Arizona State means there will be a third round to the crosstown rivalry this year, and it will come today in a 6 p.m. semifinal of the Pac-10 tournament at Staples Center.
“They’re a very good team, obviously,� said UCLA coach Ben Howland. “We played well at their place and beat them at their place. They had beaten us at home, one of our two home losses.�
Howland noted both teams should be at full strength this time, unlike the prior meetings when there were injury issues.
“(USC’s Daniel) Hackett is back in the game,� he said. “He didn’t play in the last game. Luc (Mbah a Moute) missed the second half of our first game. So both teams are relatively healthy. It should be a great matchup.�
Howland will receive no argument from forward Josh Shipp.
“It will definitely be a battle out there,� he said. “We’re healthy, they’re healthy, so it’s going to the team that comes out and plays the hardest.�
Another rematch: UCLA’s win over Cal was a far cry from the meeting six days earlier,when the Bruins needed a spectacular and controversial basket by Shipp to pull out an 81-80 victory. How did things change so much so quickly?
“Well, they played a game (Wednesday),� said Howland. “That’s always a little harder, when we’re sitting here waiting on them. And they got extended in that game. It was a hard-fought game and went to the wire.�
Of course, the way the Bruins played had something to do with it, as well, as they jumped to a 16-4 lead, made 14 of 25 3-pointers and generally played like the highly ranked team they are.
“I thought our guys were really, really excited to play today,� said Howland. “We had lost to them a year ago in the same game, and we wanted to make sure we won this game, No. 1, and No. 2, that we advance in this tournament.�
Pacing: With a relatively easy victory — and the potential for three games in three days — Howland went to his bench early and often. Six players combined for 58 minutes off the bench, as well as 19 points.
“I need to give these guys a little more of a rest,� said Howland. “I think it helps them with their legs. … We’ll probably continue to do that.�